Council approves plan to treat water with UV system

At today's City Council meeting, Portland Commissioner Randy Leonard reversed course on a new $385 million sand filtration plant for the city's water, saying he lacked the votes to push through the pricey venture.

Instead, he's proposed that the Water Bureau plan a cheaper UV system while the city seeks an exception from the federal government on clean water regulations. The bureau, which he oversees, had recommended sand.

The proposal passed 5-0.

Beer makers, environmentalists and others opposed to tampering with Bull Run drinking water had urged the council to opt for ultraviolet cleaning. They didn't see the point in going ahead with sand filtration if their ultimate goal was to seek an exemption.

Leonard had said the $100 million UV system would waste money because it would weed out cryptosporidium and only cryptosporidium, which Bull Run water hasn't had in years. Sand filtration would provide the city with the ability to filter out future contaminants and provide for more drinkable water, he said.

But Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Amanda Fritz argued for ultraviolet, saying it was cleaner, safer and cheaper.